Owner of Several Mexican Restaurants in Central and Southern Maine Pleas Not Guilty to Hiring Illegal Immigrants

The co-owner of several Mexican restaurants in central and southern Maine has pleaded not guilty to charges that he hired illegal immigrants.Hector Fuentes pleaded not guilty in federal court on Wednesday to charges of conspiracy to harbor undocumented aliens for profit, aiding and abetting document fraud, and three counts of harboring undocumented aliens for profit.The charges stem from immigration raids at three restaurants in September. Agents allege they found at least eight illegal immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala living in the basement of the Fajita Grill in Westbrook. Agents also said they found evidence of illegal activity at the Cancun Mexican Restaurant in Waterville and at the Cancun Mexican Restaurant Two in Biddeford.Fuentes is free on $10,000 cash bail. His brother also faces charges.